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Pedro Diaz Del Castillo

Pedro Diaz Del Castillo, Member 37,530, told us he lives most of the year in Madrid, Spain with luminous skies and magnificent clouds the whole year.  A perfect subject for his cloud paintings.

You can see more of his work on his Instagram

Clouds – from the CAS Sky Gathering, Orkney

Yvonne Gray sent us this ‘group poem’ written during a very enjoyable and productive creative writing workshop that was held at the Cloud Appreciation Society Orkney Sky Gathering  last week.  Image: A sunset over the Isle of Shapinsay, Orkney Islands © Peter Amsden

Clouds

clouds to make stories from
clouds to make dreams of
cloud – a shawl round the hills of Hoy
cloud – a warning. Something just over the horizon

cloud – a backdrop for the sunset
cloud forever changing
clouds that swiftly pass – or linger
cloud – a harbinger

cloud that carries precious rain
clouds soft as pillows

we feel cloud when we’re enveloped in cloud
but see nothing
when we see clouds, we can’t be in them
although we wish to

cloud for the fiery sunset
cloud for the artist’s vision
cloud for music’s inspiration
cloud for the poet’s revelation

by Mark Donovan, Yvonne Gray, Patricia Laurence, Mike Nordin, Carien van Zwol

Stromness, Wednesday 8 May 2024

“The Human Weather”

Society founder, Gavin Pretor-Pinney took part in a documentary, “The Human Weather”, that went out earlier this year. It was produced by Choi, Pyeongsoon, Program Director of Documentary at Korea Educational Broadcasting System. 

A sunset over Shepherds Bush, London, UK. (Red sky at night, Shepherd's delight).

From My Bedroom by Moira Lazarus

Moira Lazarus is a song-writer and poet from London.  This is a poem she wrote a few years ago, just watching the London sky darkening.  Image: A sunset over Shepherds Bush, London, UK. (Red sky at night, Shepherd’s delight). © David Stening

From My Bedroom

I lie on my back and watch clouds travel
slow and thick
inked by the falling dusk, folds of velvet
blanking out the light.

This, then, is night.
A tipping over into another world,
an encroaching spell.

The sky holds pewter clouds now and is the colour of moonstone.
Second by second they are darkening faster,
blackening the roofs, hovering over chimneys like old smoke,
the sun almost gone.

Inside, closed curtains and artificial light prepare to
ward off the visceral intensity of night.

But I would like to fly
straight into this sky
ride the clouds to wherever they blow.
I would like to let the wild night flow.

Dawn will be here soon enough.

© Moira Lazarus, October 2016

                       

From Sherry Palmer

Sherry Palmer, Member 27,151, has been visiting Skye for over 30 years.  This painting is called “Sea Mist behind Ullinish Point” where the cloud stayed most of the day.  Sherry painted this in oil on canvas and told us “Skye has the most amazing clouds; it is impossible not to say something about them in paint!”

“The Sun in the Clouds”

Julia Dedieu, Member 63,285 is an artist and recent member of the Cloud Appreciation Society.  This painting was created in oil on canvas in 2023 and was inspired by the view from an airplane window.  Julia has called it “The Sun in the Clouds”.

“We Shall Rise” by Holly Lane

Holly Lane is a Californian artist who has been exhibiting for more that 30 years.  She told us “I LOVE clouds, but this is the first painting and frame I’ve done that is dedicated to the soaring experience of watching clouds shift in a for-get-me-not blue summer sky”.   

You can see more of Holly’s work on her website – www.hollylaneart.com

“We Shall Rise”, © Holly Lane 2024, 36.5 x 12.75 x 5.75 inches Acrylic and carved wood

One Earth: Soaring Cello + Soprano as we fly over Mediterranean clouds

This lovely Earth movie combines heart-felt Bach music with a dream-like flight over clouds and night lights, from Ireland to Saudi Arabia and features movie taken by astronauts on the ISS. The music is Bach’s “Komm in Mein Herzenshaus” (Come into my Heart’s House), the 4th movement of “Ein Feste Burg is Unser Gott” (A strong fortress is our God).

Dan Barstow, Member 41,557 and  Education Mission Specialist at the Association of Space Explorers introduced us to the ‘Earth Movie Theatre’. 

Where Angels Soar

Sheila Finch, an award winning artist, shared one of her latest pieces “Where Angels Soar”. On her website she tells us “Where Angels Soar began over 5 years ago when I recalled from memory a moment, a brief glimpse of an ocean sky that felt other-worldly. The clouds swept upward in layers with streams of light filtering throughout”.

From Diana Howard

This piece is called “Coming Storm” and was painted using oils by Diana Howard, Member 41,003.  She told us it’s of the Ste Victoire in Aix en Provence.

Cloud Timelapse over Burnie, Tasmania

Gary McArthur, Member 5,353, sent us this timelapse of mesmerising patterns produced by an upper altocumulus floccus layer projecting shadows onto a lower layer of Altocumulus stratiformis .  It was captured from his home in Tasmania, Australia in February of this year.

From Marilyn Murphy

Marilyn Murphy, Member 41,144,  is an Artist and Professor of Art Emerita at Vanderbilt University.  This is one of her graphite drawings entitled “Air and Dreams”.

You can see more of her work on her Marilyn Murphy website

She also has a solo exhibition at the Haley Gallery in Nashville, Tennessee  with some of her cloud series, including the one above.  The exhibition also includes 19 of her relief prints.   It opened on 24 February and will be up until 22 March 2024

Earth Movie Theatre – Watch Earth from space

Dan Barstow, Member 41,557 and Education Mission Specialist at the Association of Space Explorers introduced us to the ‘Earth Movie Theatre’.  Working with world-class musicians they combine music with ISS moves of Earth.  This video shows a flight path along Peru, Chile and Atlantic Coast – such a peaceful flight accompanied by the guitar of Steve Thomas

Ethereal Skies I Clouds of Freedom © Laurel Sherrie

From Laurel Sherrie

Laurel Sherrie, a lifelong artist, paints landscapes of treasured places.  She uses traditional oils and rich colours to create her pieces, which of course include wonderful skies.  Here is the first from her Ethereal Skies series entitled “Clouds of Freedom”

You can see more of her work the Laurel Sherrie website

The Yukon Aurora

In September of last year, George Preoteasa, Member 41,445, travelled to Whitehorse, Yukon.  Although the  aurora was the main attraction, he found that the Yukon is stunning.

He told us:  “as you know, I take timelapse pictures and turn them into movies, so of course I have one from this trip. The aurora was let’s say, subdued, not as powerful as when we were in Yellowknife, but I managed to get some reasonably good clips, I think. What I really like about them is how the clouds roll in and cross over”.

“The Light Within” by Sheila Finch

Sheila Finch, an award winning artist, has had her work exhibited through the USA and Europe.  This is one of her latest pieces “The Light Within”. The description on her website states “As the sun slowly falls to the horizon in the afternoon, I’m offered a visual gift of light and color from layers upon layers of clouds out over the Pacific Ocean”.

You can see more of her work on her website, Sheila Finch Fine Art

Prelude in C – welcomes you to Namibia

Dan Barstow, Member 41,557 and  Education Mission Specialist at the Association of Space Explorers introduced us to the ‘Earth Movie Theatre’.  From Earth orbit, listen to Bach’s flowing Prelude in C, as you watch Earth below – clouds over the Atlantic and the land of Namibia. Stunning! Harpsichord by world-class Bob van Asperen. Earth photography by astronauts of ISS 63

From J Pogalies

J Pogalies from Madison, Ohio recently sent this example of her art and told us “I live on the shores of Lake Erie, a Great Lake! I photograph clouds and more almost daily. They are not altered except I then flip them or stack them to form new images and have them printed on large metal panels 1’x5’ up to 4’x5’“. 

You can see more of her cloud art on her website

A full moon over Bigfork, Montana, US.

“Clouds” by Nick Houvras

Nick Houvras, member 7,347 is a longstanding member of the Cloud Appreciation Society and sent us one of his cloud related poems. We’ve paired it with a photograph from our Photo Gallery of a full moon over Bigfork, Montana by Ruth Quist.

Clouds

The clouds are the roof over our head curiously they break apart and you see the blue sky And sun above.
At night there my appear a star winking at you.
Or a big white round full moon that comes partly through.
The oceans adrift in the sky above but no sail boats there flying high.
Just occasionally white streaks planes leave behind like trails one can walk on.
You maybe, so for now just say hi, high to the clouds in the sky!

© Nick Houvras 2022

Shadows in the Sky

Jurene Phaneuf, Member 45,173 , sent us the link to Mike Olbinski’s video “Shadows in the Sky”.  The images are mesmerising and the accompanying music very atmospheric.

“Before the Storm” by Larissa Gray

Larissa Gray is an award winning artist based in Kyneton, a town in the Macedon Ranges region of West Central Victoria, Australia.  Although she specialises in small scale bronze and mixed media sculptures, she also likes to draw clouds.  This one is called ‘Before the Storm’.

You can see more about Larissa and her work on her website

Astronaut video of Sunset Serenity – with Steve Thomas Guitar [ Earth Movie Theater ]

Sunset Serenity captures the rich colors and serene drama of a sunset, seen from the ISS.  ISS orbits Earth in 92 minutes – that means 16 sunrises and sunsets every day!  Steve Thomas plays guitar and does sonic magic to help us experience Sunset Serenity. 

Dan Barstow, Member 41,557 and Education Mission Specialist at the Association of Space Explorers introduced us to the ‘Earth Movie Theatre’.  Working with world-class musicians they combine music with ISS moves of Earth.

By Anna Watts

Gerard Watts, Member 62,339, sent us this painting by his Anna Watts.  He told us

“Anna is an artist from Greystanes NSW Australia. She specialises in abstract art drawing and painting. Much of her art is inspired from nature and her surroundings. Anna’s other interests are music composition and puppetry”

From Sophie Keir

Artist, Sophie Keir, sent this detail of an Oil on Canvas painting of stormy, dramatic clouds inspired by the often in the background skies of Old Master paintings. These skies are sometimes more interesting than the main focus!

You can see more of her paintings, prints and cards on her website.

Special production for new “Bach Forest” in Germany – One Earth

Dan Barstow, Member 41,557 and Education Mission Specialist at the Association of Space Explorers introduced us to the ‘Earth Movie Theatre’.  Working with world-class musicians they combine music with ISS moves of Earth. This production was in celebration of the new Bach Forest and the satellite image covers Ireland to Saudi Arabia at night.

The Bach Forest is situated in Leipzig and over the next few years a forest of approximately 29 hectares will be planted on the western side of Lake Störmthal. You can see more about it on the Bach Fest website